“We play at believing ourselves imortal. We delude oursleves in the appraisal of our own works and in our perpetual misappraisal of the works of others. See you at the Nobel, writers say, as one might say: see you in hell.”

—  Roberto Bolaño , book 2666

Source: 2666

Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "We play at believing ourselves imortal. We delude oursleves in the appraisal of our own works and in our perpetual misa…" by Roberto Bolaño?
Roberto Bolaño photo
Roberto Bolaño 49
Chilean author 1953–2003

Related quotes

Lynda Gratton photo

“We are more likely to love our work when we see it as play.”

Lynda Gratton (1953) Business theorist

The Shift: The Future of Work Is Already Here, 2011

Nisargadatta Maharaj photo

“(…) make your world perfect, by all means. If you believe in God, work with Him. If you do not, become one. Either see the world as a play or work at it with all your might. (…).”

Nisargadatta Maharaj (1897–1981) Indian guru

God
Source: I am That, P.156.

C. Rajagopalachari photo

“We must learn two things. One is to see ourselves as others see us. We apply one yardstick when we wish to appraise other people. Secondly, we cannot succeed in anything if we act in fear of other people's opinions.”

C. Rajagopalachari (1878–1972) Political leader

Rajagopalachari, quoted in: R. K. Murthi (1979) Rajaji, life and work, p. 155

Tsunetomo Yamamoto photo

“The saying, "Thought by thought we see our own mistakes," also means that the highest Way is in discussion with others.”

Tsunetomo Yamamoto book Hagakure

Hagakure (c. 1716)
Context: To hate injustice and stand on righteousness is a difficult thing. Furthermore, to think that being righteous is the best one can do and to do one's utmost to be righteous will, on the contrary, bring many mistakes. The Way is in a higher place than righteousness. This is very difficult to discover, but it is the highest wisdom. When seen from this standpoint, things like righteousness are rather shallow. If one does not understand this on his own, it cannot be known. There is a method of getting to this Way, however, even if one cannot discover it by himself. This is found in consultation with others. Even a person who has not attained this Way sees others from the side. It is like the saying from the game of go: "He who sees from the side has eight eyes." The saying, "Thought by thought we see our own mistakes," also means that the highest Way is in discussion with others.

Chuck Palahniuk photo

“Carl Jung called this his shadow work. He said we never see others. Instead we see only aspects of ourselves that fall over them. Shadows. Projections. Our associations.”

Chuck Palahniuk book Diary

Source: Diary

Jack McDevitt photo

“Our generation faces only one danger, that we might say to ourselves this is not our problem, and that we will pass it off to the distant future. That we might shrug and say to ourselves that a thousand years is a long time. That we will become complacent and conclude that this problem will take care of itself.
But I say to you, we should take no satisfaction in the fact that we ourselves are in no physical danger. This is a hazard to our world, to everything we hope to pass on to future generations. And it is clear that we should act now, while we have the time.”

Jack McDevitt (1935) American novelist, Short story writer

Introduction
Academy Series - Priscilla "Hutch" Hutchins, Omega (2003)

Lee Kuan Yew photo

“If we say that we believe in democracy, if we say that the fabric of a democratic society is one which allows for the free play of idea…then, in the name of all the gods, give that free play a chance to work within the constitutional framework.”

Lee Kuan Yew (1923–2015) First Prime Minister of Singapore

Opposition leader Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore Legislative Assembly, Oct 4, 1956
1950s

Derren Brown photo

“The way that we draw faces says so much about the way that we see ourselves and the way that we see each other.”

Derren Brown (1971) British illusionist

TV Series and Specials (Includes DVDs), Derren Brown Plays Russian Roulette Live (2003)

Vincent Van Gogh photo

“But for one's health as you say, it is very necessary to work in the garden and see the flowers growing.”

Vincent Van Gogh (1853–1890) Dutch post-Impressionist painter (1853-1890)
Max Beckmann photo

“My first informed impression, and what I would like to achieve, I can perhaps only realize when I am impelled as in a vision. One of my figures, perhaps one from the Temptation, sang his strange song to me one night –.. We are playing hide-and-seek, we are playing hide-and-seek across a thousand seas, we gods.... when the skies are red in the middle of the night, when the skies are red at night. You cannot see us, you cannot see us but you are ourselves.... that is what makes us laugh so gaily... Stars are our eyes and nebulae our beards.... we have people's souls for our hearts. We hide ourselves and you cannot see us, which is just what we want.”

Max Beckmann (1884–1950) German painter, draftsman, printmaker, sculptor and writer

Source: 1930s, On my Painting (1938), p. 19

Related topics